Flexible coupling.



i W. J. FRAN'CKE.

FLEXIBLE COUPLING. APPglcATloN FILED MA1/20,191.5.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2'.

Patented sept. 28, 1915.

bili

WLLIAM J'. FRANCKE, 0F HIGHLAND PARK, NEW JERSEY.

v FLEXIBLE COUPLING.

The object of thepresent invention is to pro-.-

vide a new and improved flexible coupling, more especially designed foruse on the shafts of powerful machinery, and arranged to insure propertransmission of the power from one shaft to the other even should suchcoupled shafts be parallel or out of center.

` In order to produce the desired result, use is made of couplingmembers adaptedto be secured to the adjacent ends of two shafts,

a Heating member intermediate the coupling members, and flexibleconnecting members connecting the said coupling members with the saidintermediate loating member.

A practical embodiment of the invention is represented in theaccompanying drawings forminga part of this specification, in whichsimilar characters of reference indicatev corresponding parts in all theviews.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal central section of thel flexible coupling onthe line 1-1 of Fig. 3, and with a portion of one coupling member andthe shaft shown in. elevation,

Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view of lthe same on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the same on the line -33 of Fig. 1;Fig. 4 is a reduced view of the outer face of one of the couplingmembers With the shaft shown in section; and Fig. 5 is a perspectiveview of one of the flexible 'connecting members.

On the adjacent ends of the shafts A and B to be coupled together aresecured the coupling members C and D by the use of keys or similarfastening-means E, E', as plainly shown in Figs. 1 and 4. Thecoupling'members C and Dare spaced apart and a floating member F,preferably in the form of a Wheel, is arranged intermediate the couplingmembers C and D and the latter are Aflexibly connected with the saidfloating member F by the use of flexible connecting members G, Garranged in 'a circle,

Specification of Letters 'atent. Pijend Sept, 28, 19150 Application inedtray zo, 1915.

Serial No. 29,299.

the center of which coincides with tlieaxes' of the coupling members Cand rD andthe ing coupling members C and D. The inner- Y most keepers G6of the connecting members G and G slidably engage bearings FL, formedlongitudinally in the rim of the Vintermediate floating member F. EachQumrmost keeper G5 is provided with a flange G7 fastened by a bolt H orH to an overhanging portion G2 or D2 of the corresponding couplingmember C or D so that the outer ends of the connecting members G and Gare rigidlyattached to the coupling memb C and D While the inner ends oftheta-id connecting members G and G slidably engage the intermediatefloating member la".A The flat springs G2 are arranged so as toveX inthe direction in which the coupling members C and D are rotating thesaine, as more fully described in the patents above referred to, so thatfurther description ofthe/"Salbe is not deemed necessary, itl beingsncient to state that the rotary motion of one coupling member istransmitted by the set of flexible connecting members Gr or G with theintermediate loating member F, and the latter in turn transmits itsmotion' to ,the 'other coupling member by the set of flexible con--necting members o or Gr connectingl 'the said floating member F with thecoupling member to be riven. lt Willbe noticed that on a strain theinner ends of the exible cony necting members Gr, G are free ,to slidein the floating member F, and a proper transmission ofthe power takesplace even should the shafts A and B be out of center and disposedparallely one to the other, als indicated in Fig. 1; lt will also benoticed that when this condition exists the floating member' F i isdisposed at an angle to the faces of the coupling members C and D. y

ln order to prevent the floating member F from contacting at its rimwith thefrims of the coupling members C and Bynes is made of pins I andI secured to thieliub Aof the floating member F and abutting with' their`outer endsagainst'the adjacent ends of the shafts'l. and B. Byrthearr'iangement :tot

Htl,

y io

described,the floating member Fis not liable to contact `with thecoupling members C and "D toprevent undue lfriction and to insurethevtransmission of power from one coupling member to the othei solely bymeans 'of the flexible connecting members and the floating member F. Thefloating member AF is constructed to Jform a well F2 for containing alubricant supplied through a suitable pipe J extending from the insideof Ithe well F2 to the peripheral face of the floating f member F.v The`well F2 is connected by ports' F3 with the bearingsF so as to lubricatethe keepers G6 sliding in the bearings F. i c

Having thus described my invention, I

claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In a flexible coupling, the combination of coupling members adaptedto be secured to the adjacentends of two shafts, an intermina-te memberarranged intermediate the said coupling members, and flexible connectingmembers connecting the said coupling members withthe said intermediatemember independently .one of the other, each flexible connecting memberconsisting of abunch of superimposed flat springs extend'- ingapproximately parallel to the axes ofthe coupling members.

, 2. In a exible, coupling, thecombinationof coupling members adapted tobe secured to the adjacent ends of two shafts, an in- 'termediate memberarranged intermediate attached to the corresponding coupling member andthe inner keeper of each flexible connecting member slidably engagingthe said intermediate member.

4f. Ina flexible coupling, the combination of coupling members adaptedto be secured to the .adjacent ends of two shafts, an intermed1atemember arranged intermediate the said coupling members and having acentral contact with the adjacent ends of the said shafts, and flexibleconnecting members connecting the said coupling'members with the saidintermediate member.

5. In a flexible coupling, they combination ol' coupling members adaptedto be secured fo the adjacent ends of two shafts, an intcrmediate memberarranged intermediate the said coupling members and provided with an oilwell and with a series of longitudinal bearings in communication withthe said oil well, and llexible connecting mem-" bers attached at theirouter ends to the said 'coupling members and having their inner endsslid-able in the sai-d bearings.

- 6. In a flexible coupling, the combination of coupling members adaptedto be secured to the vadjacent ends oftwo shafts, a'n intermediatemember arranged intermediate the said coupling members and provided withcontact abutment pins adapted to en- Ygage theadjacent ends of the saidshafts,`

andv flexible vconnecting members connecting the said coupling memberswith'the said intermediate member.

7; In a flexible coupling, the combination of coupling members adaptedto be secured tothe adjacent ends of Vtwo shafts-,each coupling memberbeing provided with a series of apertures andhaving at its outer :tacean overhanging rim, Van intermediatefloating memben arranged between.the saidcouplingmembers provided with longitudinal bearings in registerwith the said aper-` tures, flexible lconnecting members connecting thesaid coupling membersA with the said intermediate member, each flexibleconnecting member having a plurality of superimposed flat springsl andkeepers attached to the ends of the said springs, the innermost'A'keeper of a flexible connecting vmemberslid- .ably engaging a bearingin the said interlmediate member. and the outermost keeper of avflexibleconnecting member fitting into o neof the apertures of a coupling memberandh'aving al flange at its outer end, and a bolt -fasteningthe flange-of' one outermost keeper to the overhanging rim ofthe correspondingcoupling member. l

-In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing Witnesses; i

WILLIAM J': FRANCKE.

THEO. Gr. Hos'rnn, GEORGE H. EMSLIE.

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

` Washington, D. C.

